Written by Gabrielle Tramby
In this activity you’ll do maths like a computer. It’s a bit tricky, so younger readers may want to read the ‘What’s Happening?’ section first.
To get number 3 you need to hold both your little and ring finger as 1 + 2 = 3. This is written in binary code as 00011.
We can code the alphabet by representing letters with numbers. The letter ‘a’ is the number 1, ‘b’ is 2, c = 3, d = 4 and so on until z = 26. This way you can write words as numbers. The word BINARY would be written as 2-9-14-1-18-25.
These numbers can then be coded further using binary numbers. Holding your fingers up again you can work out that the first letter of BINARY, represented by the number 2 can be written as 00010. The second letter (the number 9) is 01001.
Using this method, B-I-N-A-R-Y written in binary code is
00010 – 01001 – 01110 – 0001 – 10010 – 11001
For 12, you would need the finger with the number 8 written on it and the finger with the number 4. 8 + 4 = 12. And therefore, the binary code is 01100.
To work out the answer to the question below, first decode the binary into decimal numbers (the numbers will be from 1 to 26) and then decode the decimal numbers into letters.
Question: What’s the difference between pea green paint and the cha cha?
Answer:
00001- 01110 -11001 – 01111 – 01110 – 00101
00011-00001- 01110
00011-01000- 00001 00011-01000-00001
When we count and do everyday calculations like adding and multiplying, we use the decimal number system. When computers count, calculate and process words, they use the binary number system.
Using the decimal system, which is based on the number 10, the positions of the digits in a number, reading from the right, mean ‘units’, ‘tens’, ‘hundreds’, ‘thousands’, and so on. (The value of each position goes up by a factor of 10.) The decimal system uses 10 numerals (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) and the number 453 means 3 units, 5 tens and 4 hundreds.
In the binary representation of a number, the position of the digits, mean ‘units’, ‘twos’, ‘fours’, ‘eights’, ‘sixteens’, and so on. The value of each number goes up by a factor of 2. Look at your hand again, did you notice that?
The binary number system uses two numerals (0 and 1) and 1101 means (reading from the right to the left) 1 unit, no twos, 1 four and 1 eight, or 1 + 4 + 8, which equals 13. (A binary digit – a 1 or a 0 – is called a bit.)
The binary number system is ideal for use in computer programs because the two digits can be represented by the two states of an electronic circuit (off = 0 and on = 1).
Although computers are based on the binary number system, we don’t have to use binary numbers when using one. Instead, we enter decimal numbers the computer converts into binary before manipulating them. Fortunately, computers are much faster than we are at translating decimal into binary.
Binary codes can represent the letters of the alphabet, numerals, common symbols, and commands such as ‘space’ or ‘enter’ on the computer keyboard.
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25 April, 2018 at 2:33 am
What is binary code how do you work it out in homework thank you so much
26 April, 2018 at 9:30 am
Hi Elishia,
Binary code is a way of writing numbers where you can only use the symbols 1 and 0, and you can’t use 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 or 9.
It’s a bit tricky to explain simply, but instead of having a tens digit and a hundreds digit, you have a twos digit, a fours digit, an eights digit, a sixteens digit and so on.
you might find this page helpful:
https://blog.doublehelix.csiro.au/binary-for-beginners/
Good luck!
14 April, 2019 at 4:08 pm
I need help decoded something
15 April, 2019 at 8:45 am
Sure, what’s up?